Information and Resources for
California Collegiate 4-H Clubs
http://www.ca4h.org/collegiate4h/
Revised 10-8-2008
Prepared by Cynthia Sperry & Steven Worker
(2008)
It is the policy of the University of California (UC) and the UC Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources
not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities
(Complete nondiscrimination policy statement can be found at
http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/187680.pdf). Inquiries regarding ANR’s nondiscrimination policies may
be directed to Linda Marie Manton, Affirmative Action Contact, University of California, Agriculture and
Natural Resources, 2801 Second Street, Davis, CA 95618, (530) 750-1318.
California Collegiate 4-H
Collegiate 4-H is an organization that provides its members a sense of identity on college and
university campuses, enriches their lives through group projects and recreation, develops confidence
and leadership skills, and allows students expanded opportunities to serve the 4-H YDP.
California Collegiate 4-H is authorized and administered by the State 4-H Office in cooperation with
the county 4-H YDP staff and programs.
California Collegiate 4-H will…
 Be a means of maintaining one’s involvement in 4-H beyond youth membership
 Provide support, a communication framework, and information to all its members
 Become role models for youth to follow, and act accordingly
 Serve as a resource to local clubs, county, sectional, and state 4-H programs
 Present trainings and informational sessions relating to higher education at 4-H events
 Provide experience in leadership to its members, preparing them to become 4-H volunteers
 Integrate higher education into youth programs, by encouraging 4-H members to continue
education beyond high school
 Support members in developing professional connections with professors and industry
 Encourage the formation of social support groups
Collegiate 4-H Clubs
Collegiate 4-H Clubs may be established at any
California institution of higher education
including community colleges, private colleges
and universities, CSU and UC, and
vocational/trade schools.
Clubs are comprised mainly of students active on
the host campus but may include alumni and
honorary members, or students at other institutes
of higher education.
Each club may choose the focus of its program,
which may vary. This may include activities and
service on local, county, sectional, and state levels
of the California 4-H Youth Development
Program.
Create a Collegiate 4-H Club
1. Contact the State 4-H Office and start
developing governing documents.
2. Contact your school club’s administration
office and file paperwork to form a student
organization.
3. Find at least four other people to help you
start the club.
4. Have your first meeting!
a. Determine your mission and goals
b. Approve governing documents.
c. Elect officers
All 4-H Collegiate Clubs must be chartered through the county 4-H office in which the higher
education institution resides and approved through the State 4-H Office. Authorization to use the
4-H name and emblem, establish a bank account, raise funds, and carryout an educational program
are granted through the chartering process.
Most Collegiate 4-H Clubs obtain status as a recognized student organization at their host campus.
Colleges have additional guidelines and policies regarding student organizations. The college may
mandate financial procedures, membership requirements, and use of facilities. If host campus
policies conflict with 4-H YDP Policies, the State 4-H Office will help determine a proper course of
action on a case-by-case basis.
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Membership
Undergraduate, graduate and professional students are eligible to join a Collegiate 4-H Club at their
respective institution of higher education. Faculty and staff may serve as club advisors at the
invitation of the student membership.
Many colleges mandate membership eligibility for student organizations. While Collegiate 4-H
Clubs must adhere to these guidelines of their host campus, all 4-H groups and activities must
adhere to the University of California non-discrimination statement when using the 4-H name and
emblem.
Collegiate 4-H members enroll as adult volunteers and follow all of the enrollment screening and
orientation processes as required by the state and county 4-H YDP. Enrollment should be
completed in the county where the institution of higher education is located.
Collegiate 4-H activities must adhere to all 4-H policies. Collegiate 4-H Club members are expected
to adhere to the 4-H Adult Code of Conduct. Alcohol and tobacco products are prohibited at
Collegiate 4-H events.
Additional Resources
National Collegiate 4-H Organization Establishment Guidelines
http://nys4h.cce.cornell.edu/Documents/Get%20Involved/nat%20collegiate%20club%20guideline
s.pdf
The approval form is only used for Clubs wanting to join and have voting rights with the National
Collegiate 4-H Organization.
California Collegiate 4-H Coordinator
Jenna Colburn
University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources
California State 4-H Office
2801 Second Street
Davis, CA 95618-7774
530-750-1336
jcolburn@ucanr.edu
Collegiate 4-H Structure
California Collegiate 4-H Clubs may choose to participate in the Western Regional Collegiate 4-H
Council and/or National Collegiate 4-H Organization. Both entities have eligibility guidelines in
becoming a voting Collegiate 4-H Club. Both hold conferences annually, have communication lists,
and provide resources and support to Collegiate 4-H Club.
National Collegiate 4-H
 The national motto of Collegiate 4-H is “Sharing to Continue – Continuing to Share”
 At the national level, there is a National Action Board (NAB) composed of two regional
representatives per region, a secretary, business manager, and national committee liaisons.
This group is responsible for finances and national activities, and interacts with both the
National 4-H Council and USDA.
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National level committees exist to enhance the resources and experiences available to
Collegiate 4-H at the club, regional, and national level. Applications are due during National
Conference.
 Each year in the spring (Feb – Apr) there is a National Collegiate 4-H Conference. Hosting
duties for this conference rotate among the four Regions, which select a host school from
their members.
 Each Collegiate 4-H Club that pays national dues has two votes at the business meeting
conducted at every National Collegiate 4-H Conference. Dues are paid to the National
Business Manager – go to the above website to find the contact information for this officer.

Western Regional Collegiate 4-H
 The Western Region includes all member schools in the states of Alaska, Arizona, California,
Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
Wyoming
 At the regional level, the officers include a president, business officer and secretary that
oversee regional activities and finances.
 Each year in the fall (Oct – Dec) there is a Western Regional Collegiate 4-H Conference.
The host school for each year is designated at the previous year’s conference.
 Each Collegiate 4-H Club that pays regional dues has two votes at the business meeting
conducted at every Western Regional Collegiate 4-H Conference. Dues are paid to the
Regional Business Manager – go to the above website to find the contact information for
this officer.
California Collegiate 4-H
 California Collegiate 4-H includes all member schools located within the State of California
and following 4-H YDP guidelines. It is overseen by the State 4-H Office and the
appropriate student activities office at each campus.
 This group provides communication pathways among its members and encourages
collaboration both within the group and with other programs.
 All members of California Collegiate 4-H clubs are encouraged to take part in statewide
activities.
 No state dues are collected for this program.
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Opportunities for Collegiate 4-H Members
Partial List
General Activity Suggestions
 Leading projects for local 4-H clubs and communities
 Serving on planning, programmatic, or advisory committees
 Mentoring youth members
 Assisting 4-H staff and volunteers
 Outreach and training teams
 Hosting conferences and events
 Tutoring
 Presenting sessions at conferences and events
 Chaperoning 4-H teens at overnight events and conferences
Other 4-H Programs
 Offer to assist with Local, County, and Sectional Events
 Lead a workshop at a Sectional 4-H Leadership Conference, 4-H State Leadership
Conference or State 4-H Leaders’ Forum
 Become involved with planning activities at the State 4-H Field Day
 Attend the Western Regional Collegiate 4-H Conference or National Collegiate 4-H
Conference
 Act as a collegiate facilitator at the National 4-H Conference
 County Advisory or Management Committees
 Serve on a State 4-H Advisory Committee
 Serve as a Western Regional Collegiate 4-H Officer or on a National Collegiate 4-H
Committee
Collegiate 4-H Club Suggested Materials
You may find the items below useful as you establish your new club.
Collegiate 4-H Binder
 General club materials
o Calendar
o Constitution and Bylaws (sample included in this packet)
o Agenda (included)
o Minutes (use agenda as guide for notes)
o Recruitment Flyer (included)
o Sign-up sheet (included)
o Roster of current, honorary, and alumni members (base on sign-up sheet)
o Archives (past events, presentation materials)
o References (other clubs’ information, icebreakers, contacts)
o Robert’s Rules of Order (available at most bookstores)
 Treasurer’s materials
o Campus Guidelines (obtain through campus student activities office)
o 4-H Treasurer’s manual (available for download on the State 4-H website)
o Fundraising ideas and guidelines
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Sample Business Meeting Agenda (1 Hour)
Club Name Collegiate 4-H Meeting
Date, Time, Location
0:00 – 0:10
0:10 – 0:20
Introductions and Check-In
 Ice-Breaker (Officer or other member)
 Personal updates (each member, 1-3 sentences)




Old Business
Previous Meeting’s minutes (Secretary)
Financial Report (Treasurer)
Reports on past events/activities (committees)
Address business left over from previous meeting (open)
0:20 – 0:30
New Business
 Address new concerns/business (open)
 Information about upcoming events/activities (committees)
 General Announcements (open)
0:30 – 0:50
Activity or Guest Speaker
 Quick Description of Activity
 Key Points / Topics
0:50 – 1:00




Wrap-up
Reports or votes (if business-related)
Schedule future meeting dates and topics
Adjournment
Clean up meeting space
Other Optional Sections
 “Fun Facts” or quiz section
 Club description/mission statement on each agenda (useful for new members/guests)
 Member profiles
 Calendar (with upcoming school, 4-H, and social events)
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First Meeting Agenda
Club Name Collegiate 4-H Meeting
Date, Time, Location
0:00 – 0:10 Introductions and Check-In
 Ice-Breaker (Officer or other member), Individual Introductions
 Fun activity or food?
Getting Everything Started (may take more than one meeting)
Purpose
 Why is the club here?
 Why is each person here?
 What skills do we bring to the club? To the rest of the 4-H Youth Development Program?
Structure / Activities
 On what area(s) will we focus during our first year?
 What do we want to accomplish over this first year?
 What do we want to do in future years?
 Key Topics
o Events – Interaction with 4-H and campus
o Recruitment
o Fundraising
o Club recognition on campus
o Calendar – meetings, events, dates, and locations
o Advisors
o Enrollment in the 4-H Youth Development Program
Stretch Break!
Constitution and Bylaws
 Look over the sample governing documents and modify it to fit your needs.
 Consult the UCCE Office and the campus Student Activities office to ensure compliance
with existing guidelines or rules
 Discuss key items such as officers, elections, and meeting rules
 Vote to ratify
 Submit to campus and County 4-H Office for approval
Stretch Break!
Electing Officers
 Discuss needs and interests
 Open nominations
 Campaign speeches and Secret-Ballot election (may be postponed until next meeting
0:50 – 1:00 Wrap-up
 Schedule future meeting dates and topics
 Adjournment
 Clean up meeting space
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Does this clover look familiar?
Are you interested in youth
development, community service, or
leadership?
Do you want the opportunity to work
with motivated student leaders?
Join us!
Collegiate 4-H at (Campus)
DATE
(Time) at (Location)
For more information, contact
(Name) at (Number) or (Email
Address)
Check out our organization at
http://ca4h.org/collegiate4h/
It is the policy of the University of California (UC) and the UC Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources not to engage in discrimination against or
harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities (Complete nondiscrimination policy statement can be found at
http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/187680.pdf ). Inquiries regarding ANR’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to Linda Marie Manton,
Affirmative Action Contact, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2801 Second Street, Davis, CA 95618, (530) 750-1318.
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